Too Square to be Hip
A narcissist's guide to travel and culture
Montenegro, a land with a fjord to rival any in Norway, has a breathtaking northern mountain range to compare with any in New Zealand. One particular sight, that of the Tara river gorge, is one of the most impressive in the world. The gorge is the deepest canyon on the European continent and registers as …
Not familiar with the culinary delicacies of the Balkans? No problem! In this article we cover a few dishes you should try when on your trek to south-eastern Europe and where you can find them. The sights are only one part of the trip, so prepare your stomach for the delights of a lifetime. 1. …
Sarajevo to Mostar: I had meant to take the train to Mostar from Sarajevo, so I was disappointed when I found out that I would not be able to do so. The train ride, hugging the Neretva River George, is supposed to be one of the finest, most scenic rides in the world. Unfortunately the …
Billy Joel’s 1977 Album “The Stranger” contains a song called Vienna. In it the narrator relates a message about enjoying life and not rushing forward too quickly. The perfect place for this is obviously Vienna as the narrator says “Vienna waits for you”. I never got that impression from Vienna, not once, but I did …
Mostar to Trebinje: Winding through the mountains south of Mostar on a rickety bus, one can say that Herzegovina’s countryside is stunning. Ancient castles and towers, unmarked on most maps, seem to cling to every hill. In the valleys, blue streams separate the craggy hills from each other and flourishing vineyards fill its valleys. After …
From Ljubljana to Bled: Located a mere 35km from Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, Lake Bled is a great option for a day trip. The enchanting fairy tale destination is nestled by a ring of hills blessing it with the dramatic backdrop of the Austrian Alps. The bus ride can be made within the …
Trebinje (Bosnia) to Montenegro: My dad and I had left Trebinje in southern Herzegovina with a good afternoon beer buzz and food in our bellies. We had learned that the bus was not leaving until late in the evening so we did something that is only really affordable in the Balkans: We took a taxi …
Jajce and Travnik, what do these little known cities have in common? Well, for one, they were both royal cities of Bosnia at one point or another. Jajce was the capital of the Slavic Bosnian kingdom and Travnik the Ottoman providence of the West Balkans. Today, both cities are long past their glory days, only …
I will be the first to admit that Belgrade is not your typical travel destination. It’s not that the city is ugly, quite the opposite, but it is run down. This ancient city, strategically built at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, has been spit on by the conquerors of history but the …
Although the Balkans aren’t known for their brews, I have found them to be just as tasty as any beer I have had yet. This post covers mainstream brews found in the region, craft beers will be confined to a separate post. In other words, we are sticking to Macros not Micros. These brews range …
